Shoe Heel Cup Protection Device

ABSTRACT

A shoe heel cup device including a ground contacting base portion and a resilient shoe heel engagement portion forming a unitary member, the resilient shoe heel engagement portion being a cup containing, but not limited to, at least five flexible equispaced projecting ribs within the inner surface together defining a bore for receiving a shoe heel therein, the entry of which is smaller in diameter to the base. 
     The invention has been described in language more or less specific to the device features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for a shoe heel to prevent orinhibit the heel from sinking into a soft surface when a shoe is beingworn.

BACKGROUND ART

Devices similar to that of the present invention are available. One suchdevice is described in international Patent to Publication No. WO2007/124534 which also contains a useful description of the prior art todate. A section of the “background of the invention” portion of thatdocument follows verbatim:

“It is well known that there is a large number of different types offootwear, including shoes that cater for different functions andfashions. Women's shoes in particular, are often equipped with a raisedor high heel. In many instances, the design of the heel is such that theheel is relatively narrow in width, with the heel essentially consistingof an elongate stem. An example of this is the known stiletto heel.However, there are many other different types of heel designs thatgenerally consist of a stemmed shape or configuration. A problem thatmay be encountered by a person wearing shoes with such a heel is thatthe heel may sink into the ground that is being walked upon. This is aparticular problem when the ground is soft, such as sand or grass. Inthese instances, it can become difficult for the person to walk uponsuch a surface, as the heel must often be pulled out of the ground witheach step. A similar problem can be encountered when the ground isrelatively unstable, such as when walking on a gravel road or path. Insuch an event, the narrow stem structure of the heel can sink in betweenrocks or pebbles that make up the ground. This may lead to generalinstability for the person walking thereon, thereby increasing thepossibility of injury by, for example, falling and spraining or twistingan ankle. In addition, in such, circumstances, there is also thecapacity for causing damage to the shoe, in particular the heel Thelikelihood of damage to the shoe is greater for those shoes that aremanufactured from delicate materials, such as suede or fine fabrics.Unfortunately, it is often the case that such shoes are most often themost expensive to buy and their subsequent repair or replacement maycome at significant expense to their owner. Similar safety and shoemaintenance problems can also be encountered when high heeled, shoes areworn whilst walking upon a surface that has numerous or significantgaps, for example, upon planks of a decking surface. The presentinvention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioneddisadvantages and problems that may be encountered whilst wearing raisedor high heeled shoes, particularly whilst standing or walking uponsurfaces that are soft, unstable or generally uneven.”

The above tract of discussion highlights the issues faced by a device ofthe general kind of that of the present invention.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication isreferred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission thatthe publication forms any part of the common general knowledge in theart in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a shoe heel protection cup device,which will overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages, analternative with many advantages, as well as providing the consumer witha more useful or commercial choice.

With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, relatesto a shoe heel cup device including in a unitary form, a groundcontacting base portion and a resilient shoe heel engagement portion,the resilient shoe heel engagement portion being a cup containing anumber of flexible equispaced projecting ribs within the inner surfacetogether defining a bore for receiving a shoe heel therein.

The device has been designed to provide the stability and supportrequired by a high heel shoe with an elongated stem, such as a StilettoHeel when walking in the soft ground (sand and dirt). The device willprevent a high heel shoe from sinking in soft ground (avoiding anypotential injury and providing protection to expensive high heel shoes)as well as functioning to protect hardwood floors from high heelstiletto type shoes making indentations in the timber.

The ground contacting base portion is larger in cross-sectionaldimension than the heel in order to spread the load and to support theheel from penetrating the ground surface.

The base portion is configured as a planar member with onecircumferential upright extension. This extension is in the form of acup with internal fins or ribs shaped to engage with a shoe heel. Theprojecting ribs are arrayed in a circular configuration equispaced aboutthe bore of the device and extend upwardly from the base of the deviceto the top of the device into, but not through, the heel engagementportion.

The internal base of the device has a number of furrows or trenchesequal to the number of projecting ribs from which the ribs emerge toenable projecting ribs to be altered by a shoe heel from base to tipwithout compromise to the internal base portion of the device upon whichthe heel pad rests.

The base portion and heel engagement portion of the device ismanufactured in a single unitary manner in rigid plastic or similarforming a device of one continuous part.

The heel engagement portion is a unitary member with a number offeatures. The external appearance of which represents an inverted cupmember.

The heel engagement portion is manufactured from a resilient materialthe configuration of which will preferably be biased inwardly to gripthe heel once the heel is inserted into the bore.

The heel engagement portion includes a number of projecting ribsextending from the furrows in the base to the top of the device placedabout the internal surface of the cup in an equispaced arrangement, theentry of which is smaller in diameter to the base.

The projecting ribs may extend substantially from the top of the deviceto the furrows within the ground-contacting portion of the device, withthe rib projection at the entry of the bore being greater than the ribprojection within the furrows at the base of the device. Adjusting theprojection of the ribs will typically adjust the degree of heelengagement and thereby increase surface friction with a shoe heel andreduce the relative size of the bore.

According to this embodiment, the unitary shoe heel cup device will, bemanufactured from a resilient plastic, typically one that has a clearappearance. The plastic may be coloured or otherwise adapted with eitheran integral or surface finish in order to render the deviceaesthetically pleasing. According to the most preferred embodiment, thedevice will resemble an inverse cup when viewed from above. The devicemay have a gemstone faceted treatment or any other aestheticmodification to the exterior surface of the device extending from thebase to the top of the device.

In this way, as the heel of the shoe is inserted into the shoe heel cup,the projecting ribs, regardless of number, are deformed outwardly inorder to allow passage of the heel, and also grip the heel onceinserted.

If necessary, projecting ribs may be increased in number or made morerigid or stiff by increasing their projection and thickness to providesufficient stiffness or resistance against the resilient deformation.This may be used in situations where it is found that the device doesnot engage with the shoe heel securely enough, causing it to come loose.

The cup device itself is circular in appearance, but it may be shapeddifferently as shoe heels are typically D-shaped in cross section.Therefore the cup may be D-shaped as well.

Depending on the preferred embodiment, the shoe heel cap may have acontinuous sidewall extending from the upper portion of the device to aregion adjacent to the ground-contacting portion.

The shoe heel cup will have a larger dimension in a region adjacent tothe ground contacting portion and a smaller dimension at an upperregion. In this manner, the upper region acts to grip the shoe heelwhilst the larger dimension lower down allows clearance for the heel padof the shoe.

Preferably, the device of the preferred embodiment will be configured toprovide a gradual increase in the surface area of the device as thedevice abuts relatively soft ground.

According to another embodiment, the invention resides in a shoe havinga heel with a shoe heel cup device including a ground contacting baseand a resilient shoe heel engagement system, the resilient shoe heelengagement portion including, but not limited to, live projecting ribsdefining a bore for receiving a shoe heel therein, the deformation ofthe projecting; ribs allowing passage of the shoe heel, and also grip ofthe shoe heel once inserted.

The device of the present, invention is sized for a combination ofaesthetics, and to not interfere with walking (snowshoe/flipper effect)but still being large enough to function by inhibiting penetration ofthe heel of the shoe into relatively soft ground.

Also by using the inwardly projecting ribs deformed about the shoe heel,the device relies on friction to adhere to the heel, maximisingperformance of the product in relatively soft ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference tothe following drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a shoe heel cup deviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above the device illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the inside of the device illustrated inFIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the inside of the deviceillustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the internal base demonstratingfurrows of the device illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a detailed view the side of the device illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of the device

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the side of the device

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the base of the device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a shoe heel supportdevice is provided. Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1-5,the embodiment of the shoe heel support device has a unitaryconfiguration.

The shoe heel support illustrated in the figures includes a groundcontacting base (FIG. 3) and a resilient shoe heel engagement portion(FIG. 2). The resilient shoe heel engagement portion (FIG. 2) of theillustrated embodiment includes five equidistant ribs, which togetherdefine a bore for receiving a shoe heel therein in an interference fit.

As illustrated in the Figures, the device has a cup shape. The groundcontacting base (FIG. 3) provided on the lower side of the deviceextends over the lower end of the bore (FIG. 2) to close the bore suchthat when a shoe heel is located correctly within the bore and weight isplaced on the shoe, the shoe pad at the lower end of the shoe heel abutsthe ground contacting base.

The heel engagement portion (FIGS. 2-3) has a cushion portion in thebore above the ground contacting.

The ground-contacting base (FIG. 3) is larger in cross-sectionaldimension than the shoe heel in order to spread the load and to supportthe heel. As illustrated in

FIG. 3, the base portion is a substantially circular plate member with anumber of furrows or channels from which the ribs emerge.

The furrows (FIG. 5) allow the ribs to deform outwardly from the entryof the bore to their length within the furrows at the base of the devicein order to allow passage of the heel, and also grip the heel onceinserted.

FIG. 4 demonstrates the resilient equidistant ribs protruding upwardlyfrom the ground-contacting base. These projecting extensions or ribs(FIGS. 3-5) extend substantially from the top of the device to thefurrows within the ground-contacting portion of the device, with the ribprojection at the entry of the bore being greater than the ribprojection within the furrows at the base of the device.

The heel engagement portion (FIGS. 1-3) of the illustrated embodimentsis a unitary member. Both the ground contacting base and the heelengagement portion (FIG. 3) is manufactured from a resilient material.As such, the configuration of the heel engagement portion is biasedinwardly to grip the heel once the heel is inserted into the bore (FIG.2).

The heel engagement portion (FIG. 2) of the illustrated embodimentsinclude a number of ribs or fins spaced about the bore. As stated above,the heel engagement portion is generally cup-like in shape with fiveribs (FIG. 2) forming the heal engagement portion.

Adjusting the projection of the ribs (FIG. 2) will typically adjust thedegree of heel engagement and thereby increase surface friction with ashoe heel and reduce the relative size of the bore.

According to the illustrated embodiment (FIG. 1), the device resembles afaceted gem stone when viewed from the side.

The bore (FIG. 2) of the illustrated embodiment is substantiallycircular but it may be shaped differently as shoe heels are typicallyD-shaped in cross-section, Depending upon the embodiment, the bore (FIG.2) has a continuous sidewall extending from the upper portion of thedevice to the ground-contacting base (FIG. 3).

The bore and its associated rib like projections (FIG. 2) has a largerdimension in a region adjacent to the ground contacting base (FIG. 3)and a smaller dimension at an upper region to create the interferencefit. In this manner, the upper region will act to grip the shoe heelwhilst the larger dimension lower down allows clearance for the heel padof the shoe (which is typically slightly larger than the shoe heelitself).

Referring to FIG. 1, the ground contacting base acts as a bolster whichwhen mounted on the heel bolsters a substantial portion of the heelabove ground level by inhibiting penetration of an upper portion of theheel into relatively soft ground. The bolster in use, is mounted to theheel at a selected distance from a base of the heel so as to facilitatea normal walking gait for a wearer (not shown) when walking onrelatively hard ground.

1. A shoe heel cup device including a ground contacting base portion anda resilient shoe heel engagement portion forming a unitary member theresilient shoe heel engagement portion being a cup containing a numberof flexible equispaced projecting ribs within the inner surface togetherdefining a bore for receiving a shoe heel therein.
 2. A heel cup deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground contacting base portion islarger in cross sectional dimension than the shoe heel to spread theload and support the heel.
 3. The shoe heel cup as claimed in claim 1will have a larger dimension in a region adjacent to the groundcontacting portion and a smaller dimension at an upper region. In thismanner, the upper region will act to grip the shoe heel whilst thelarger dimension lower down allows clearance for the heel pad of theshoe.
 4. A shoe heel cup device as claimed in any one of the precedingclaims wherein the base portion and heel engagement portion are formedas one unitary member.
 5. A shoe heel cup device as claimed in any oneof the preceding claims wherein the base portion is typically configuredas a planar member with one circumferential upright extension. Thisextension is in the form of a cup with internal fins or ribs shaped toengage with a shoe heel.
 6. A shoe heel cup device as claimed in any oneof the proceeding claims wherein the heel engagement portion is formedfrom a resilient material, shaped and biased inwardly which incombination with a number of projecting ribs grips the heel once theheel is inserted into the bore.
 7. A shoe heel cup device as claimed inany one of the preceding claims wherein the heel engagement portionincludes, but is not limited to, five projecting ribs extending from thefurrows in the base of the device to the top of the device placed aboutthe internal surface of the cup in an equispaced arrangement, the entryof which is smaller in diameter to the base.
 8. A shoe heel cup deviceas claimed in any one of the proceeding claims wherein the projectingribs extend from the top of the device to the furrows within the groundcontracting portion of the device.
 9. A shoe heel cup device as claimedin claim 1 wherein that projecting ribs are arrayed in a circularconfiguration equispaced about the bore of the device and extendupwardly from the base of the device to the top of the device into, butnot through, the heel engagement portion.
 10. A shoe heel cup device asclaimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the internal base of thedevice has a number of furrows or trenches equal to the number ofprojecting ribs from which the ribs emerge to enable projecting ribs tobe altered by a shoe heel from base to tip without compromise to theinternal base portion of the device upon which the heel pad rests.
 11. Ashoe heel cup device as claimed in any of the preceding claims whereinthe device will be manufactured in a single unitary manner in rigidplastic or similar forming a device of one continuous part.
 12. A shoeheel cup as claimed in any of the preceding claims that will be biasedinwardly to grip the heel once the heel is inserted into the bore.
 13. Ashoe heel cup device as claimed in any of the preceding claims whereinthe projecting ribs, regardless of the number are deformed outwardly inorder to allow the passage of the heel, and also grip the heel onceinserted.
 14. A shoe heel cup device as claimed in any of the precedingclaims wherein projecting ribs may increase or decrease in number ormade more rigid or stiff by increasing their projection and thickness toprovide sufficient stiffness or resistance against the resilientdeformation.
 15. The cup device itself will typically be circular inappearance, but it may be shaped differently as shoe heels are typicallyD-shaped in cross section. Therefore the cup may be D-shaped as well.